But, after Torres horribly mistimed a shot from Glen Johnson's lowcrossearly on, the Spaniard proved Birmingham's nemesis with the type of saves with which he is more normally associated.
Franck Ribery was an early threat down the left and his lowcross after seven minutes should have been converted by Govou, while playmaker Yoann Gourcuff had few opportunities to showcase his skills - although he almost caught Fernando Muslera out with a free-kick from a tight angle on 17 minutes.